PlayStation 5
Mark Cerny, the lead architect of the PlayStation console line, implemented a two-year feedback cycle after the launch of the PlayStation 4. This process involved regularly visiting Sony's first-party developers at two-year intervals to find out what concerns they had about Sony's hardware and how it could be improved in console refreshes or for the next generation. This feedback directly influenced the priorities of the development team during the creation of the PlayStation 5.
During the development phase, a central challenge revolved around addressing the length of loading times for games. Cerny said several developers, including Epic Games' Tim Sweeney, told him that standard I/O speed of a hard disk drive was now a limiting factor in pushing game development. Slow data rates placed limits on the size of data being loaded into the game, the physical location of data on the storage medium, and the duplication of data across the medium in order to reduce load times. An important goal was to find ways to reduce loading time, particularly in games that stream or dynamically load new game areas as the player moves through the game world.
Sony released a minor hardware revision of the PlayStation 5 in August 2021 known as the 1100 series. This version featured a smaller heatsink without a significant impact on cooling performance. The revision also eliminated the need for a screwdriver when attaching the console stand. As a result, the overall weight was reduced to 3.9 kg (8.6 lb) for the model with an optical disc drive and 3.6 kg (7.9 lb) for the digital edition.
Another revision, the 1200-series, began shipping in August 2022. This version featured a die shrink of the SoC, reducing power consumption, allowing Sony to redesign the heatsink again, contributing to a weight decrease. The revised model with an optical disc drive weighs 4.2 kg (9.3 lb) and the digital edition weighs 3.8 kg (8.4 lb). Sony announced revised models of the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition in October 2023, with a release scheduled for November 2023. These models, colloquially referred to as the "PlayStation 5 Slim", are physically smaller and replaced the original versions of the system.
In April 2021, Sony released a new software update through which users can transfer their downloaded PS5 game to an external USB hard drive. Sony announced a PlayStation 5 system software beta program in June 2021, similar to the Xbox Insider program, where signed-up users can receive early releases of planned updates to the console's software for testing prior to their release. One of the first major features offered in this program was support for expanding internal storage via the M.2 port, added in the beta software path in July 2021.
On the 8th of March 2023, Sony released software update 7.00, which included VRR support for 1440p resolution, the ability to transfer data between PS5 consoles, support for voice chat on Discord, and support for using voice to save video clips of gameplay. On the 13th of September 2023, Sony released software update 8.00, which included support for Dolby Atmos, the possibility to use an M.2 SSD with a maximum capacity of 8 TB (up from the previous 4 TB limit), and the ability to mute the start-up beep sound.
The date and pricing was confirmed as part of a game showcase presentation on the 16th of September 2020; the release date in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North America, and South Korea was confirmed for the 12th of November 2020, and for most of the rest of the world on the 19th of November 2020. The console was launched in the Philippines on the 11th of December 2020. PlayStation 5's release in India was delayed, leading to speculation that a trademark dispute was the reason; the name "PS5" was briefly trademarked by a different person.
Worldwide supply of the console remained low due to a global chip shortage from 2020 to 2023. Sony expected a short retail stock until 2023; the company said that the supply chain issues were fixed. In August 2022, Sony announced a price increase by up to 20% in most of its markets except the US, citing global economic, inflationary, and supply chain pressures. A price increase in the US took effect in August 2025, citing a "challenging economic environment".
Two weeks after launch, Sony declared the largest launch in PlayStation history, surpassing the PlayStation 4's 2.1 million units in its first two weeks in 2013. During the system's first week of release in Japan, 103,901 standard consoles were sold, and 14,181 Digital Editions were sold, for a combined total of 118,082, making it the best-selling console in the country for that week. By September 2021, Sony reported over a million PS5 sales in Japan.
Sony reported total shipments of the PS5 through its fiscal quarter ending the 31st of December 2020 of 4.5 million units, which were similar numbers to the PS4's launch shipments. Total shipments of PlayStation 5 reached 7.8 million by the 31st of March 2021, surpassing the 7.6 million units that the PS4 had shipped in its first two-quarters of release. The company later confirmed that by the 30th of June 2021, it had shipped 10.1 million consoles, indicating that nearly every shipped console had been sold as soon as it reached the market.
The PlayStation 5 was generally well received at launch, with much praise of its DualSense controller's improved haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Astro's Playroom, which comes preinstalled on every PS5 and is designed to demonstrate the controller's features, was praised with Laptop Mag calling it "deceptively cute". The exclusive line-up, including Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon's Souls, was heavily praised, although some reviewers, such as TechRadar, said there should have been more launch games.
Many reviewers found the console's design polarizing. CNET described the black and white scheme as "clearly meant to be a sculptural conversation piece". The large size was criticized by Tom's Guide as "inelegant", and by others as frustrating its integration into a home entertainment center. Many also acknowledged the size for improving the cooling and quieting of its operation. The comparatively small 667 GB of usable SSD space was criticized.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
Who is the lead architect of the PlayStation 5?
Mark Cerny serves as the lead architect of the PlayStation console line and implemented a two-year feedback cycle after the launch of the PlayStation 4 to influence development priorities for the PlayStation 5.
When was the PlayStation 5 released in North America?
The release date in North America was confirmed for the 12th of November 2020 during a game showcase presentation on the 16th of September 2020, with most of the rest of the world following on the 19th of November 2020.
What hardware revisions were made to the PlayStation 5 in 2021 and 2022?
Sony released a minor hardware revision known as the 1100 series in August 2021 featuring a smaller heatsink, followed by the 1200-series beginning shipping in August 2022 which included a die shrink of the SoC and further weight reduction.
How many units of the PlayStation 5 had been shipped by June 30 2021?
By the 30th of June 2021, Sony had shipped 10.1 million consoles, indicating that nearly every shipped console had been sold as soon as it reached the market.
Why did Sony increase the price of the PlayStation 5 in August 2025?
A price increase in the US took effect in August 2025 citing a challenging economic environment after previous increases in other markets due to global economic inflationary and supply chain pressures.